ronmccullock
The final instalment of the Leyland Titan TN Series story
My last post of the hand over of the last Leyland Titans to London Transport was to be the end of the Titan story. I decided to make this post as an extra bonus like you get on a DVD. The first production Titan T1 for London Transport was registered THX 401S fleet number T1 was completed in July 1978. T1 was delivered to London Transport's Aldenham Works in August that year and would be allocated to RD Hornchurch depot for driver training in September. London Transport Titans T1,T2 and T3 were used by British Leyland for a publicity stunt when they were driven around Parliament Square.
T1 appeared at a bus rally held at Syon Park in September 1978 which is the subject of this photograph. Notice the script between decks "A New Leyland Titan for London Transport" and Titan No. 1 in the destination display. Also note the silver wheel hubs. If you look through the cab side window you can see a newspaper with the headline "Titan takes a bow". Next to T1 basking in the autumn sunshine is the first MCW Metrobus for London Transport THX 101S fleet number M1.
London Transport would split their double-deck bus orders between the Leyland Titan and MCW Metrobus. Which would result in London Transport purchasing 1,131 Titans which five were the ex West Midlands PTE examples and B15.05. In comparison the number of MCW Metrobus purchased was 1, 448. Both the Titan and Metrobus were to replace the DMS class which amounted to 2,646, the combined total of Titan and Metrobus was 2,579.
T1 was a long-term survivor running in London from 1978 into the new millennium as a showbus, in 1983 it was repainted into its original livery and named "Hornchurch Ambassador". In September 1994 T1 was in the ownership of Stagecoach East London. Model manufacturer EFE immortalised T1 but based the model of T1 with Stagecoach East London without the silver wheel hubs.
This photograph concludes the Leyland Titan story from B15 project to the final Titans built in November 1984, in total I have posted 35 photographs with a comprehensive caption telling the Titan story.
I shall move onto the B45 Olympian story but only posting photos showing the design and development of the Olympian and rare unseen photos of demonstrator Olympian buses and coaches. I will swap between the Olympian and other Leyland bus and coach models from Leyland's back catalogue going back 50 years, so yes the National will be included.
Photograph credit: British Leyland Truck & Bus Division/Basil Hancock
Bibliography:-
Websites: Ian's Bus Stop
Books: The London Titan Matthew Wharmby
Vehicle information:-
Operator: London Transport
Registration: THX 401S
Fleet number: T1
Depot: RD Hornchurch
Seating: H44/22D
Vehicle identification: TNLXB2RRSP T1
Engine: 10.45-litre Gardner 6LXB
Gearbox: Five-speed Hydracyclic gearbox with the G2 control system
Factory built at: Park Royal Vehicles Ltd Abbey Road Park Royal London NW10
Location: Syon Park, Brentford TW8 8JF
The final instalment of the Leyland Titan TN Series story
My last post of the hand over of the last Leyland Titans to London Transport was to be the end of the Titan story. I decided to make this post as an extra bonus like you get on a DVD. The first production Titan T1 for London Transport was registered THX 401S fleet number T1 was completed in July 1978. T1 was delivered to London Transport's Aldenham Works in August that year and would be allocated to RD Hornchurch depot for driver training in September. London Transport Titans T1,T2 and T3 were used by British Leyland for a publicity stunt when they were driven around Parliament Square.
T1 appeared at a bus rally held at Syon Park in September 1978 which is the subject of this photograph. Notice the script between decks "A New Leyland Titan for London Transport" and Titan No. 1 in the destination display. Also note the silver wheel hubs. If you look through the cab side window you can see a newspaper with the headline "Titan takes a bow". Next to T1 basking in the autumn sunshine is the first MCW Metrobus for London Transport THX 101S fleet number M1.
London Transport would split their double-deck bus orders between the Leyland Titan and MCW Metrobus. Which would result in London Transport purchasing 1,131 Titans which five were the ex West Midlands PTE examples and B15.05. In comparison the number of MCW Metrobus purchased was 1, 448. Both the Titan and Metrobus were to replace the DMS class which amounted to 2,646, the combined total of Titan and Metrobus was 2,579.
T1 was a long-term survivor running in London from 1978 into the new millennium as a showbus, in 1983 it was repainted into its original livery and named "Hornchurch Ambassador". In September 1994 T1 was in the ownership of Stagecoach East London. Model manufacturer EFE immortalised T1 but based the model of T1 with Stagecoach East London without the silver wheel hubs.
This photograph concludes the Leyland Titan story from B15 project to the final Titans built in November 1984, in total I have posted 35 photographs with a comprehensive caption telling the Titan story.
I shall move onto the B45 Olympian story but only posting photos showing the design and development of the Olympian and rare unseen photos of demonstrator Olympian buses and coaches. I will swap between the Olympian and other Leyland bus and coach models from Leyland's back catalogue going back 50 years, so yes the National will be included.
Photograph credit: British Leyland Truck & Bus Division/Basil Hancock
Bibliography:-
Websites: Ian's Bus Stop
Books: The London Titan Matthew Wharmby
Vehicle information:-
Operator: London Transport
Registration: THX 401S
Fleet number: T1
Depot: RD Hornchurch
Seating: H44/22D
Vehicle identification: TNLXB2RRSP T1
Engine: 10.45-litre Gardner 6LXB
Gearbox: Five-speed Hydracyclic gearbox with the G2 control system
Factory built at: Park Royal Vehicles Ltd Abbey Road Park Royal London NW10
Location: Syon Park, Brentford TW8 8JF